How To Finish Wood Floors Yourself

Follow the directions on the finish container for drying time between coats.

How to finish wood floors yourself. Close the windows and doors to keep dust contained in the room you re sanding. If you oiled the wood you can also use floor wax. Options for clear film finishes include oil or water based polyurethane acrylic urethane shellac. This story will show you how to refinish hardwood floors and add a new coat of finish directly over the old by first applying a liquid that roughens the old finish so the new finish can bond to it.

Gently wipe the floor with a terry cloth mop or a towel wrapped around a mop head. When each coat dries sand the floor lightly with 220 grit paper or 000 steel wool. Apply the first of two coats of finish wax or other floor finish such as polyurethane or varnish. Pick at least two test areas on the floor.

Area with sanding screen. Roughen up two test areas and then coat them with urethane to begin refinishing hardwood floors. Be sure to provide plenty of ventilation and wear a respirator. Clean each area with a wood floor cleaner and roughen a 6 x 6 in.

Watch how to refinish hardwood floors instead of having to replace them. Apply the final coat. Wipe down walls to prevent dust from falling to the floor as your finish is drying. When applying a finish it s always best to apply several thin coats rather than a heavy one.

Wait at least 24 hours after the final coat dries before moving furniture into the room. Find the detailed instructions on sanding and refinishing hardwood flooring here. In order for the stain to penetrate the wood evenly use a technique called water popping. Unlike waxes or other hardwood floor refinisher products that provide a short term shine this added coat will last for years and extend the life of your floor.

Apply the finish with a lamb s wool applicator in smooth even lines while avoiding drips. Many finishes take 24 hours to dry. Remove shoe moulding the wood trim where the wall meets the floor. Sanding the floor will kick up a lot of dust so protect light fixtures and tape over electrical outlets.

Consider three coats of oil based finish or four coats of water based finish. Use a shop vacuum with a brush head to clean the floor thoroughly and then follow with a sticky tack cloth to remove any remaining particles image 1. Before you start sanding remove everything from the room and vacuum the floor. One in a high traffic zone the other along a wall or in a closet.